Release Detail

February 23, 1999 - Hillary Clinton Doubles Lead In Senate Bid With Giuliani,
Quinnipiac College Poll Finds;
Mayor Leads In Understanding New York State Issues

First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton has doubled her lead over New York City Mayor
Rudolph Giuliani in their undeclared U.S. Senate race to 54 - 36 percent, an 18-point gap, with
a 62 - 27 percent lead among women, according to a Quinnipiac College poll released today.

In a February 3 poll by the independent Quinnipiac College, Mrs. Clinton led Mayor
Giuliani 51 - 42 percent, a 9-point margin.

If former U.S. Senator Alfonse D'Amato faced Clinton, the First Lady would win 60 -
30 percent.

By a 68 - 26 percent margin, with 75 - 20 percent among women, New Yorkers say
Clinton "cares about the needs and problems of people like you," while Giuliani scores 53 - 33
percent overall on this trait, with a 48 - 34 rating among women voters.

"Political experts thought the numbers for Hillary Clinton couldn't get any better. They
were wrong. Before the splurge of media attention began, the last Quinnipiac College Poll
showed her defeating Giuliani by 9 points," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac
College Polling Institute.

"While the election is 20 months away, this latest poll is a convincing argument -- an 18-
point argument -- for Mrs. Clinton to toss her hat into New York's ring."

"Women almost always vote slightly more Democratic. But these numbers are awesome.
Admiration for her standup performance these past few months has to be a factor," Carroll said.

"This seat has been held by senators from Massachusetts and from Connecticut. But
outsider status is still Mrs. Clinton's weak point. By contrast, New Yorkers think Giuliani
understands New York State issues."

"Women politicians usually don't score high on questions about leadership. It's different
with this woman politician. She's right up there with Giuliani, who always scores very high as
a strong leader."

Republicans back Giuliani 71 - 21 percent, while Democrats back Clinton 81 - 10
percent. The First Lady wins 70 - 22 percent in New York City and 50 - 38 percent upstate,
while Giuliani wins 49 - 43 percent in the suburbs.

By a 54 - 20 percent margin, New Yorkers have a favorable opinion of Hillary Clinton,
with 17 percent mixed and 9 percent who haven't heard enough to form an opinion. This tops
President Clinton's 46 - 28 percent favorability.

Giuliani gets a 36 - 21 percent favorability, with 23 percent mixed and 19 percent who
haven't heard enough to form an opinion.

Hillary Clinton's support of her husband during the scandal makes 39 percent of voters
think better of her, while 13 percent think worse of her and 45 percent say it hasn't affected
their opinion. Results are similar among men and women.

From February 16 - 22, Quinnipiac College surveyed 1,270 New Yorkers who say they
are registered voters. The poll has a margin of error of +/- 2.8 percent. The Quinnipiac
College Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, conducts public opinion surveys in New York,
New Jersey and Connecticut as a public service and for research.

For additional data -- www.quinnipiac.edu

3. Is your opinion of First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton favorable, unfavorable,
mixed, or haven't you heard enough about her?

Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Favorable 54% 47% 68% 47% 26% 78% 47% 46% 61%

Unfavorable 20 21 12 26 41 5 22 27 14

Mixed 17 19 13 17 21 11 20 16 17

Haven't hrd enough 9 11 6 8 10 6 10 10 8

REFUSED 1 1 1 2 1 - 2 2 1

4. Is your opinion of New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani favorable,
unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him?

Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Favorable 36% 27% 29% 57% 54% 25% 34% 42% 30%

Unfavorable 21 10 41 14 7 34 17 20 22

Mixed 23 20 27 24 16 26 26 22 24

Haven't hrd enough 19 42 2 4 22 14 23 15 23

REFUSED 1 1 1 - - 1 - 1 1

5. Is your opinion of former New York Senator Alfonse D'Amato favorable,
unfavorable, mixed, or haven't you heard enough about him?

Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Favorable 23% 23% 15% 32% 43% 13% 21% 28% 19%

Unfavorable 39 40 45 30 16 54 38 39 39

Mixed 25 25 25 25 32 19 29 22 27

Haven't hrd enough 12 12 14 12 9 14 11 9 15

REFUSED 1 1 1 1 - 1 1 1 1

6. If the election for United States Senator in the year 2000 were being held
today and the candidates were Hillary Rodham Clinton, the Democrat, and Rudolph
Giuliani, the Republican, for whom would you vote?

Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Rodham Clinton 54% 50% 70% 43% 21% 81% 50% 46% 62%

Giuliani 36 38 22 49 71 10 39 46 27

SOMEONE ELSE (VOL) 2 1 3 2 2 1 1 2 2

WOULDN'T VOTE (VOL) 2 3 2 - - 1 3 1 2

DK/NA 6 8 4 6 6 6 6 5 7

7. If the election for United States Senator in the year 2000 were being held
today and the candidates were Hillary Rodham Clinton, the Democrat, and Alfonse
D'Amato, the Republican, for whom would you vote?

Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Rodham Clinton 60% 53% 76% 53% 24% 87% 58% 52% 67%

D'Amato 30 34 18 40 67 7 30 39 23

SOMEONE ELSE (VOL) 2 3 2 1 2 2 2 3 2

WOULDN'T VOTE (VOL) 3 3 3 2 2 1 4 3 2

DK/NA 5 8 2 4 6 3 6 4 6

8. Who do you think would win the Senate election in the year 2000 if the
candidates were Hillary Rodham Clinton the Democrat, and Rudolph Giuliani the
Republican?

Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Rodham Clinton 57% 54% 67% 48% 40% 76% 50% 51% 62%

Giuliani 33 34 25 41 51 17 37 41 26

DK/NA 10 12 8 11 9 7 13 8 12

9. I'm going to read off some personal characteristics and qualities. As I read
each one, tell me if you think it applies to Hillary Rodham Clinton or not?
Wouldyou say that Hillary Rodham Clinton -- cares about the needs and problems
of people like you or not?

Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Yes 68% 65% 80% 59% 46% 89% 63% 60% 75%

No 26 28 16 36 47 8 30 34 20

DK/NA 6 8 4 4 7 4 7 6 5

10. Would you say that Hillary Rodham Clinton -- has a likable personality
or not?

Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Yes 72% 71% 79% 66% 48% 91% 68% 66% 77%

No 21 21 16 28 45 6 24 27 16

DK/NA 7 8 6 6 7 4 9 7 7

11. Would you say that Hillary Rodham Clinton -- has strong leadership
qualities or not?

Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Yes 80% 78% 85% 76% 69% 91% 76% 71% 87%

No 14 15 9 17 24 5 17 21 8

DK/NA 6 7 6 6 8 4 7 8 5

12. Would you say that Hillary Rodham Clinton -- is honest and trustworthy
or not?

Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Yes 57% 54% 66% 51% 31% 79% 51% 50% 62%

No 32 35 24 38 57 12 37 39 27

DK/NA 11 11 10 12 11 9 12 11 11

13. Would you say that Hillary Rodham Clinton -- understands the issues
and problems facing New York State or not?

Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Yes 44% 39% 57% 37% 22% 66% 36% 37% 51%

No 43 47 32 51 67 23 49 51 36

DK/NA 13 14 11 12 11 12 15 12 13

14. Would you say that Hillary Rodham Clinton -- works well with other
political leaders or not?

Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Yes 71% 67% 78% 68% 57% 84% 68% 66% 75%

No 15 16 12 17 25 8 15 21 10

DK/NA 14 17 11 14 18 8 18 13 15

15. I'm going to read off some personal characteristics and qualities. As I
read each one, tell me if you think it applies to Rudolph Giuliani or not?
Would you say that Rudolph Giuliani -- cares about the needs and problems of
people like you or not?

Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Yes 53% 47% 44% 73% 70% 43% 53% 59% 48%

No 33 27 53 20 16 45 33 33 34

DK/NA 14 26 4 7 14 12 15 8 19

16. Would you say that Rudolph Giuliani -- has a likable personality or not?

Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Yes 41% 54% 21% 45% 61% 29% 40% 43% 40%

No 46 23 75 47 24 62 46 48 44

DK/NA 13 23 4 7 15 8 15 10 15

17. Would you say that Rudolph Giuliani -- has strong leadership qualities
or not?

Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Yes 76% 71% 73% 88% 87% 68% 78% 83% 70%

No 15 12 25 9 4 24 13 13 17

DK/NA 9 17 3 3 9 8 9 4 13

18. Would you say that Rudolph Giuliani -- is honest and trustworthy or not?

Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Yes 60% 55% 53% 76% 72% 51% 61% 68% 53%

No 24 18 40 14 10 36 21 21 27

DK/NA 16 27 7 10 18 13 18 11 20

19. Would you say that Rudolph Giuliani -- understands the issues and
problems facing New York State or not?

Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Yes 66% 63% 58% 82% 83% 54% 70% 73% 61%

No 24 20 37 13 9 35 22 20 27

DK/NA 10 17 6 4 8 10 9 7 12

20. Would you say that Rudolph Giuliani -- works well with other political
leaders or not?

Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Yes 46% 52% 34% 51% 57% 35% 50% 47% 44%

No 37 22 59 37 23 51 32 40 35

DK/NA 17 27 8 12 20 14 18 13 20

21. Is your opinion of President Bill Clinton favorable, unfavorable, mixed,
or haven't you heard enough about him?

Tot Ups NYC Sub Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Favorable 46% 40% 58% 40% 20% 69% 40% 45% 47%

Unfavorable 28 34 15 35 61 6 29 33 24

Mixed 24 25 24 22 17 22 30 20 27

Haven't hrd enough 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1

REFUSED 1 1 1 2 1 1 - 1 1

22. Has Hillary Rodham Clinton's support of President Clinton during the
scandal this past year, made you think better of her, worse of her, or hasn't
it affected your opinion of her?